Flue-stopper.



No. 766,647. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. G. McADAMS.

FLUE STOPPER.

APPLIOATIOH FILED APR. 2, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

We: Geo/ ye 77(Q1darmr.

UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

GEORGE MOADAMS, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

FLUE-STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,647, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed April 2, 1904. Serial No. 201,315. (No model.)

To all who/n it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE MoADAMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flue-Stoppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flue-stoppers, and has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, and reliable device for securing the flue covers or stoppers in place under tension, so as to effectively seal the entrance to the flue and the thimble contained therein and prevent the escape of smoke, soot, flame, &c.

A further object of the invention is to construct the stopper-retaining device in such manner that it is adjustable to fines and thimbles of different sizes and also easily and quickly applicable to any ordinary flue or thimble.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts. as hereinafter fully illustrated, described, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a flue, showing a thimble therein, a cover or stopper, and the stopperretaining device of this invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are enlar ed detail perspective views of the relatively adjustable members of the staybar or anchor of the retaining device.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a stovepipe-fiue, 2 an ordinary sheet-metal thimble placed therein, and 3 an ordinary flue stopper or cover which for the purpose of carrying out the present invention is provided with a central opening in order to adapt it to be engaged by a stopper-retaining device.

The stopper retaining device comprises, essentially, an adjustable stay-bar or anchor composed of relatively adjustable members A and 5, the two members when combined forming a sort of cross-bar which extends diametrically across the flue or thimble. The sections 1 and 5 overlap each other at their adjacent ends, as shown in Fig. 1, one of said sections being provided with a longitudinal slot 6 and the other with a longitudinal series of holes 7, the slot 6 and holes 7 both being adapted to receive a retaining-bolt 8, which passes through the slot 6 of one member and is adapted to be passed through one of the holes 7 of the other member when their ends overlap.

A nut 9 engages the threaded bolt 8, as shown in Fig. 1, and is adapted to be screwed up against the adjacent member of the crossbar, so as to clamp the overlapping portions of the anchor or stay-bar between it and an enlarged head or shoulder 10 at the inner end of the bolt.

The outer extremities of the members 4. and 5 are sharpened to form thimble-engaging points 11, the thimble 1 being provided at diametrically opposite points with punctures or indentations 12 to receive the engaging points 11 and securely retain the stay-bar or anchor in position therein. In the absence of a thimble 1 the wall of the flue may may be indented at diametrically opposite points to receive the engaging points 11 in the same manner as the thimble 1.

The threaded bolt 8 is of suflicient length to extend outward through the central opening in the cover or stopper 3, where it is provided with a second nut 13, adapted to screw up against the exterior surface of the stopper, as shown in Fig. 1, for forcing the stopper inward in close contact with the chimneybreast and maintaining the same under tension. The nuts 9 and 13 are preferably of the thumb or winged type, so that they may be easily manipulated by hand.

After forming the indentations or punctures 12 the stopper-retaining device is inserted in the flue and the members L and 5 moved in opposite directions, so as to enable the engaging points 11 to enter the indentations or punctures, after which the nut 9 is screwed up tightly to fix the adjustment between the members 4: and 5, thus providing a positive engagement between the anchor or stay-bolt and the thimble or flue-wall, as the case may be. The stopper or cover 3 is then slipped over the end of the bolt and the other nut 13 screwed up tightly, so as to hold the stopper against the flue-entrance and effectively seal the same, thereby excluding smoke, soot, and flame.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A flue-stopper retainer comprising overlapping and relatively adjustable members having flue-engaging extremities and forming an anchor or stay-bar, athreaded bolt passing through said members, and a plurality of nuts on said bolt, one for fixing the adjustment of the members and the other for engaging and holding a flue-stopper.

2. A flue-stopper retainer embodying an anchor composed of overlapping and relatively adjustable members provided with pointed outer extremities, one of said members being slotted to permit adjustment, a threaded bolt passing through said members, and a plurality In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE MoADAMS.

Witnesses:

RoB'r. M. HARDEMAN, A. J. REAGAN. 

